The new school canteen guideline for 2011-2012 school year, which aims at keeping junk food away from schools will come into force in September.
All school canteens and food suppliers will be required to attend a workshop to assist themselves in its implementation.
The revised guideline was jointly reviewed by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) and the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC).
“The new guide comes in the context of seeking to achieve a safe and integrated food environment for our students, in collaboration with the relevant government institutions, to protect them from health-related risks and guide them to the correct nutritional practices that will benefit them physically and mentally,” said Mohammed Abdulla Al Fardan, Deputy Director of Communication and Community Service at the ADFCA. Workers at school canteens and school canteen suppliers will be required to comply with the new guideline. Covering five main sections, the new guide sets out the standards that school food suppliers must meet. It also covers the condition and hygiene practices at school cafeteria and the nutritional needs of the students.
It tells which foods are allowed, which are not, and foods that can be served provided certain conditions are met.
According to the new rule, junk foods, soft drinks, foods high in fat and sugar and processed meat such as sausages, hotdogs, shawarma, nuggets and burgers cannot be served to students.
Foods that will be allowed, provided they meet the required conditions include low fat milk, butter-free popcorn, cereals that are free of dyes and fortified with iron, stuffed pies and manakish not exceeding 52 gms. Rice, noodles and pasta will also be allowed provided noodles does not contain sodium glutamate and not more than 220 ml.
“We know the importance of establishing high standards for food in Abu Dhabi schools, ensuring (that) every cafeteria provides a variety of healthy food options to help students meet targets for essential nutrients such as protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin D,” Dr. Arwa Al Medwahi, Family and School Health officer at HAAD said. For this reason, a workshop will be held in the coming weeks for schools and their food suppliers to train them on how to prepare healthy foods for students.
With the new guideline, suppliers now have to go through stringent process before they are granted license to supply food to school canteens.
The supplying companies are also subjected to strict monitoring and surveillance to ensure that no unhealthy foods reach school canteens.
According to the Ministry of Health, 60 per cent of school students between the ages of five and 14 years consume chips and chocolates daily. Only 28 per cent consume vegetables while 23.2 per cent eat fruits daily.
Olivia Olarte